Two-level pallet-holder container

Abstract: Two-level pallet-holder container (1) of the type that is used to transport merchandize, having all of the surfaces thereof closed, and with some standard measurements in order to be transported by sea, railroad or highway, having a false intermediate bottom (6), formed by two pairs of brackets (13,14) with their corresponding guides (7,8), that define two top compartments (11,12) in such a way that one of the pairs of brackets (13) is integral with the side walls of the container (1), and the second pair of brackets (14) remains supported by a plate (5) positioned in relation to the bottom (4) of the container (1) in a center longitudinal position that defines the two bottom compartments (9,10) with their corresponding guides (2,3).

Description: The present invention relates to a two-level pallet-holder container for transporting merchandize, the container being of the type that, having standard measurements, can be transported by sea, rail or highway, and all of the surfaces thereof are closed. In numerous conventional containers used to transport merchandize, no compartment is defined therefore the entire surface thereof remains smooth along the entire height in order to allow insertion and stacking of the goods to be transported. Hence, certain containers have on their bottom two pairs of guides on which the respective shoes are located on which the pallet is placed with the goods stacked on it, in order to subsequently push it with the minimum effort towards the inside, the pallets remaining abutted to each other, taking up the entire space thereof. Upon transporting certain goods, or materials, there is the possibility of stacking several pallets, taking up the entire height of the container with the corresponding goods or materials, without them being damaged at all. On the contrary, in transporting certain goods, there is no possibility to stack them according to the entire height of the container. In this case the container has 50% of its capacity taken up, whereby transportation becomes considerably more expensive, since for a certain amount of goods to be transported twice as many trips have to be made than if the container were 100% full. On the other hand, in those containers that have an intermediate bottom, this takes up the entire surface of the same and it is loaded at the two free side surfaces thereof, which will remain closed by the respective sheets. GB-A-2 223 742 discloses a container according to the preamble of claim 1 of the present application The present invention as claimed consists in a two-level pallet-holder container of the type that is used to transport merchandise, with all the surfaces thereof closed and with an intermediate bottom, and that, having some standard measurements, can be transported by sea, railroad or highway. The invention is characterized in that the container has a false intermediate bottom, formed by two pairs of brackets and, each bracket having a guide for pallet shoes, said brackets defining two top compartments and, a first pair of the brackets being integral to the side walls of the container and a second pair of the brackets being supported by a vertical plate positioned on the bottom of the container in a center longitudinal position, said vertical plate defining two bottom compartments and, each bottom compartment also having two guides for pallet shoes. Basically, the improvements introduced in containers for transporting merchandize that are described in the present specification are based on including a false intermediate bottom, in the container, with which four compartments can be defined. The false intermediate bottom is formed by some longitudinal strips or brackets in which some guide-type recesses are defined, in which the corresponding shoes will be located to facilitate displacement of the pallets, placed on them, towards the inside of the container. Hence, in relation to the false intermediate bottom two pairs of guides will remain, for the corresponding shoes, that will defire two compartments for placement of the successive pallets with the goods placed in them, abutted to each other until the entire length thereof is occupied. On the other hand, in relation to the bottom of the container, two other pairs of guides have been defined for the corresponding shoes upon which the pallets will move and that will, likewise, define two other bottom compartments. In short, four compartments that will permit placement of those pallets whose goods that cannot be stacked according to the entire height of the container, have been defined in the container, permitting the same to be entirely occupied, in transporting certain goods. In relation to the bottom of the container, and in a center longitudinal position there is a vertical plate upon which the two center brackets are fastened, that delimit the two bottom compartments serving as a guide and stop of the goods. In this way, the loading and unloading of the container can be done by means of the known trolleys or "bull-type" lifting devices that will enter the container itself to deposit the pallets on the corresponding brackets, not using shoes in this case. In order to complete the description that is going to be made hereinafter, and for the purpose of providing a better understanding of its characteristics, a set of drawings, in whose figures, the most significant details of the invention, described in the present specification are represented in an illustrative and non-limiting way, is attached hereto. Figure 1 shows a front raised view of the container, in which the false intermediate bottom is observed, comprised by the two pairs of brackets, with their respective guides, as well as the two pairs of guides likewise existing in the bottom of the container, defining four compartments or hollow spaces for abutting the successive pallets located in them. Figure 2 shows a plan view of the false intermediate bottom of the container, in which the two pairs of brackets, upon whose guides the shows will move with the corresponding pallets, with the goods stacked thereon, are observed. In view of the figures commented on and in accordance with the numbering used, we can see how on the inside surface of the container (1) four compartments are defined as the same includes a false intermediate bottom, in which just like the bottom itself, of the container (1) two pairs of guides for displacement of the corresponding shoes upon which the pallets with the goods placed in them are located, have been provided. Hence, in the bottom (4) itself of the container (1), two pairs of guides (2) and (3), along which the shoes that will carry the pallets with the goods placed in them move, have been made, in such a way that said conventional shoes are capable of adopting two positions, one for displacement of the pallets and another in which they remain free, allowing displacement thereof without pulling the corresponding pallet. These shoes may remain ready once again to pull a new pallet. In the center position longitudinal to the bottom (4) of the container (1), a plate (5) that defines the two bottom compartments (9) and (10) has been provided for. The plate is very thin so that the pallets of both contiguous compartments can fit perfectly and so that it can in turn act as a guide for the goods placed on the pallets. The plate (5) must be thin given that the measurements of the container and of the pallets are standard and adapt to the width of the container. The false intermediate bottom is formed by a pair center strips or brackets (14) abutted against and integral with the bottom plate (5) and a pair of side strips or brackets (13), so that each one of the side strips with their corresponding center strip defines a top compartment (11) and (12), upon being provided with some guides (7) and (8) along with respective shoes upon which the pallets have been placed with the goods placed in them, move. In this way, when certain goods are to be transported, the successive pallets with the boxes stacked in them, will be placed on the shoes provided in the guides of the different compartments until the entire length of the same is occupied, thus the container is filled to 100 % of its capacity. The conventional shoes upon which the pallets will move can be substituted upon providing some bearings that likewise permit the displacement of the pallets by simple pushing in a simple and convenient way in the guides of the different compartments. In short, possessing a container with a false intermediate bottom for transporting certain merchandize represents a large saving, since in conventional transport, 50% of the capacity of containers is occupied, while with the false intermediate bottom that we have described, the container is transported with a load of 100% of its capacity. In other words, to transport the load that can be conveyed in one trip by means of the described container, it would be necessary to make two trips with a conventional container, this representing a large saving, in the time used, as well as in the lower fuel cost. On the other hand, the arrangement of the brackets (13-14) permits the conventional trolleys or "bull-type" lifting devices to enter the "passages" facilitating loading and unloading through them. Hence, the trolley can enter the container along the passages (6) to leave the pallets on the corresponding brackets, that form the false intermediate bottom.

Claims: Two-level pallet-holder container of the type that is used to transport merchandise, with all the surfaces thereof closed and with an intermediate bottom, and that, having some standard measurements, can be transported by sea, railroad or highway, characterized in that the container (1) has a false intermediate bottom, formed by two pairs of brackets (13) and (14), each bracket having a guide (7,8) for pallet shoes, said brackets defining two top compartments (11) and (12), a first pair of the brackets (13) being integral to the side walls of the container and a second pair of the brackets (14) being supported by a vertical plate (5) positioned on the bottom (4) of the container in a center longitudinal position, said vertical plate defining two bottom compartments (9) and (10), each bottom compartment also having two guides for pallet shoes.

Inventors: FERNANDEZ GARCIA JESUS, HERZOG HERZOG ANTONIO, OBESO LAHERA JOSE RAMON, SANCHEZ SASTRE FERNANDO, FERNANDEZ GARCIA, JESUS, OBESO LAHERA, JOSE RAMON, SANCHEZ SASTRE, FERNANDO, Obeso Lahera, José Ramon
Applicants: J S V LOGISTIC S L, J.S.V. LOGISTIC, S.L.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B65D90
IPC codes: B65D90